First things first: why is this a quick take instead of a full review, especially since we're generally big fans of brand owner Steve Saka? Well, it seems this limited edition from his latest venture is pretty much sold out, although we found a box at our local B&M. So the question is, if you're a follower of the brand, is it worth the time and effort to seek out? The answer is yes and no.

Certainly the presentation is very nice and adds a sense of anticipation, but one wonders whether this $14.95 smoke could have been sold for $12 or $13 instead without the coffin (which goes right in the trash anyway and seems like a waste of a tree. Maybe it’s time to start thinking about how much waste goes into cigar packaging. Just sayin.')

Much like the original Liga Undercrown—another Saka creation from back in his Drew Estate days—this hits the palate in a muted way. It’s rich and medium bodied but it just doesn’t envelop it like today’s boldest Nicaraguan blends, which may be a good thing depending on your individual taste. That's somewhat of a letdown however since the pre-light aroma is like opening a box of assorted cakes from the local bakery, full of cocoa and fruit and bready, yeasty character.

The cigar was easy to light but tough to keep lit. It required touch ups every few centimeters, though the wrapper seemed to be the main issue, and the touch-ups themselves consisted of merely waving a soft flame gently past. The cake-like character promised in the pre-light carries through, imparting notes of cocoa, baking spice, citrus and earth. It’s perhaps a missed opportunity that the cigar comes wrapped in cellophane, since (a) the presentation would have been much nicer without it and (b) the coffin might have added an extra zap of woody notes to the smoke to help counterbalance all that savory-ness.

Interesting that this cigar comes from the Joya de Nicaragua factory, since we also find their original Antaño 1970 blend to have a similar muted quality: plenty of nicotine and richness but no upfront zap of flavor.

Overall, we’re rating Muestra de Saka Very Good for fans of Undercrown, Liga and Joya Antaño but more like a solid Good for everyone else, especially considering the high price and burn issues. Judging by how fast fans snapped these up, we’re guessing many will disagree and argue these merit much higher praise.